Multiple garment shipping container



June 26, 1956 B. FISH 2,752,032

MULTIPLE GARMENT SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed May 51, 1955 3 Sheets-Shae?r lI 1; 77"; 5%; 12,76 3.27 33 PM) I i D 10-! H/I i I is! i 1 26 i I 14 i14 i z HA8 19 40 June 26, 1956 B. FISH MULTIPLE GARMENT SHIPPINGCONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 31, 1955 53 INVENTOR. (7 f-5 6'7'BY h' fii A TTO R N EY June 26, 1956 B. FISH MULTIPLE GARMENT SHIPPINGCONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 31, 1955 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent MULTIPLE GARMENT SHIPPING CONTAINERBernard Fish, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Interstate ContainerCorporation, Glendale, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May31, 1955, Serial No. 511,913

Claims. (Cl. 206-=7) The present invention is concerned with aserviceable and improved multiple garment shipping container and oneaspect is specifically directed to a scored corrugated fiberboard blankadapted to be conveniently dispatched by the manufacturer thereof to theconsumer who can promptly and readily set up the blank to characterizethe multiple garment container awaiting packing of the garments fordispatch to be received at a place of destination without appreciablewrinkling or creasing. One object of the invention resides in a novelscored corrugated fiberboard blank wherein primary and secondaryswingable leg components thereof constitute corresponding parts ofspaced swingable wings extending from spaced sides of the container andcan be readily folded to characterize with the spaced sides and with thespaced wings spaced sinuous formations defining in part spaced invertedU-shaped loops forming peripheral reinforced rim means for supporting aclothes hanger rack which not only braces the spaced sides of thecontainer but adequately serves to sustain a multiplicity of garmenthangers thereon. Another object is realized in employing the sinuousformation to provide spaced U-shaped loops outside of the containerserving to embrace end portions of the hanger sustaining rack and toprovide means for conveniently grasping the container after fully packedand sealed to permit convenient handling before, during and aftershipping. Another object deals with the provision of stop means on therack to maintain the garment sustaining hanger against slippagelongitudinally of the rack after full packing of the container. Anotheradvantage resides in the provision of a one piece scored corrugatedfiberboard blank wherein the side Walls are swingable towards each otherand relative to the rear wall to define an opening at the front of thecontainer adapted to be closed by a sill and a doorboth integral withand swingable relative to one of the side walls, the sill and doorconstituting the front wall of the container. Another object is toprovide the front and rear walls of the container with swingable flapsadapted to be arranged in close overlapping relation and cooperatingwith a lug or prong of the rack to locate such flaps in place inoverlapping relation and to further serve as a stop for hanger meansremovably sustained by the rack. Another object resides in interruptingone of the side walls with spaced slots for convenient reception of asuitable jaw'of a stapling machine prior to adequatey securing the silland door to a swingable lip integral with one of the side walls of thecontainer. Another object is to permit prompt and convenient access tothe hangers sustained by the rack after the strap which secures'thewings against accidental opening has been severed and after the staplessecuring the swingable door to the lip have been rendered ineffective.Another advantage resides in utilizing one of the foldable flaps tofrictionally bear against the hangers to hold the latter finnly againstthe rack. Other important functional and structural aspects of theinvention will appear from the following detailed specificationconsidered in the light of the accompanying drawings wherein:

2,752,032 Patented June 26, 1956 Fig. l is a perspective view of thecorrugated fiberboard multiple garment shipping container according tomy invention illustrating the container closed and strapped and readyfor dispatch.

Fig. 2 is also a perspective view, depicting the container door openarid its flap removed from the interior of the container.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the one piece corrugated fiberboard blankconstituting the body of the container and shown partly broken away.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the fiberboard containerexhibiting the front and rear flaps and the side wings raised, and theclothes hanger rack about to be moved downwardly to frictionallystraddle and tightly hold the contiguous legs of the inner upperinverted U-shaped folds in juxtaposition to provide upper reinforcingperipheral means for the container.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the metal rack but on a smaller scale.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the container illustrating the top side wingsand the front and rear flaps raised but with the rack in position tosnugly clamp the upper folds.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view exhibiting the rack clampingthe upper folds, the front and rear flaps closed and overlapped, and theside wings open but ready to be swung towards the closed flaps.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9, and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view of Fig. 1, shown broken away and insection to teach the relation of the top front and rear flaps and theside wings when the container is closed.

Illustrative of the invention disclosed, the multiple garment shippingcontainer is generally designated SC and is folded into closed relationfrom the one piece relatively heavy rectangular corrugated fiberboardblank B shown in Fig. 3.

Blank B is provided with the horizontally spaced vertical score orcrease lines 10, 11, 12 and 13, and the vertically spaced score orcrease lines 14, 15, 16 and 17 normal to score lines 10 to 13. The lowermargin of the blank is interrupted by recesses 18, 19 and 20 leading toand intersecting score line 14. The upper part of the blank is providedwith parallel recesses 21, 22 and 23. Also interrupting the upper marginare the notches 24- and 25 in alinement with but spaced from recesses 21and 23 and defining with the latter intervening Web or connecting means26 and 27.

The portion of the blank between score lines 15, 10 and 14 constitutesthe front wall FW of the container. Dividing the front wall is thehorizontally disposed kerf 26 to characterize sill or threshold S andthe swingable door D, the latter permitting prompt access to theinterior of the container after the blank is folded and appropriatelysecured in a manner hereafter described.

The left side wall LSW of the container is bounded by score lines 10,15, 11 and 14 and the right side wall RSW by score lines 12, 15, 13 and14 while the rear wall is resolved or determined by score lines 11, 15,12 and 14.

Swingable about score line 14 and depending from the front, rear andside walls FW, R, LSW and RSW of the blank B are the bottom panels 27,29, 28 and 30 respectively.

As is well appreciated, panels 23 and 30 constitute the bottom wall BWof the container. Panels 27 and 29 form reinforcing means for the bottomwall defined by the complementary panels 28 and 30.

Lip L extending from side wall RSW is swingable along score line 13 andforms a stop for swingable door D and sill S. To secure swingable sill Sto the lower part of lip L, a conventional wire staple SP is employed.Also the door D, after complete assembly, that is, after setting up theblank to form the container, is also fastened by similar staples. Tofacilitate such fastening, appropriate and spaced slots 35 interruptright side wall RSW adjacent lip L. These slots permit the insertion ofone jaw of a stapling machine (not shown) behind lip L and over thestill or door. This stapling machine is sometimes known in the art as aplier.

Front, rear and side walls of the corrugated fiberboard blank arefoldable along the vertical score lines 10, 11 and 12 as previouslystated, and lip L is foldable along score line 13; Panels 27, 23, 29 and30 are foldable along score lines 14.

Attention at this time is directed to the intcrvening means or webs 26and 27 normally interconnecting companion flaps F and wings W, generallydenoted as coupled components CFW. Webs 26 and 27 hold the coupledcomponents together and substantially in the same plane as is desired topermit ease of handling when setting up the blank to form the containerand to conserve space when the blanks are transferred from manufacturerof these blanks to the consumer who sets up the container from theblanks.

Also in setting up the container, wings W and flaps F are foldeddownwardly along score lines 15. Flaps F are folded in a directiontowards the inside of the container. Wings W are folded in a directiontowards the outside of the container to characterize the inverted U-shaped folds 50. Thereafter the wings W are folded upwardly along scorelines 16, that is, swung upwardly to define the U-shaped fold 51.However webs 26 and 27 are deliberately cut or torn just before the flapand wings are folded as described.

With the blank set up and secured to form the container, the bottom wallBW, that is, panels 28 and 30 are appropriately secured to the outsidefaces of the folded reinforcing panels 27 and 29 and sill S is staple tolip L. Also the swingable flaps F and wings W are raised and the door isfully open (Fig. 4).

A rack or bar R is now utilized to hold the inverted U-shaped folds 50closed, whereby their legs 52 and 53 are maintained in juxtaposition toconstitute in turn adequate means for supporting the rack. Legs 52 areformed by the intervening portion between score lines 15 and 16 whilelegs 53 are constituted by the upper margins of side Walls LSW and RSW.

Rack R is an inverted U or channel shaped sheet metal brace or barcomprising top wall or web 60 having transversely disposed and dependingfront and rear walls 61. Ends 62 of spaced walls 61 are spaced from endplates 63 and form spaced gaps for reception of the spaced folds t).Inwardly concaved ears or bridge means 64 interconnecting web 60 to endplates 63. More particularly, cars 64 are arcuate and project laterallyto overhang the web or top wall 60 and extend outwardly and upwardly andsubsequently slightly downwardly to merge with plates 63. These ears orbridge means 64 are sustained by the crests of the inverted U-shapedfolds or loops 50 while legs 52 and 53 thereof are straddled and clampedby ends 62 and end plates 63. By the arrangement disclosed, rack R holdsthe spaced sides LSW and RSW a predetermined distance apart and furtherserves as a support for the many garment hangers such as H that may besuspended therefrom. For purposes of illustration, one such hanger H isshown for the sake of simplicity. As is well understood, the hanger hasits Wire shaped hook 70 removably embracing rail or rack R. A lug orprong 71 stuck out of web 60 is a stop for the hanger.

After rack R has been assembled with the container, the flaps, wings andthe door are still open. Hangers containing garments are mounted on therack until the container is fully loaded. Door D is then swung to aclosed position carrying with it its flap F. Thereafter both flaps areswung downwardly to their overlapped relation illustrated in Fig. 7,whereby lug or prong 71 penetrates into these flaps. Subsequentlyremaining portions of wings W are swung downwardly towards and againstthe overlapped and closed flaps F whereby the remaining portions ofWings W fold along score lines 17, that is, substantially normal to theoutside or secondary legs of the outside and lower U-shaped loops 51.After folding wings W against flaps F, they may be secured in anysuitable well known manner, such as by a staple top sealer oradhesively. To preclude accidental swingable opening of door D, thelatter is fastened by staples SP to lip L. The container is nowcompletely closed and thereafter the conventional metal strapping ST isusually applied. It should be noted however that when the container issealed by flaps F, lower flap F frictionally cooperates with the hook 70of a hanger H'to hold the latter clamped against the rack (Fig. 9) andwith thecontainer closed and sealed, outside loops 51 serve as graspingmeans for conveniently picking up and handling the container. When fullyloaded the suspended garments hang normally to avoid creasing. Thiscondition is substantially maintained even during transportation as thegarments are held properly stacked within the container since thehangers on the rail or rack R, when the container is fully loaded, arearranged in close relation along the entire length of the rack whichfrictionally straddles the inside loops 50 to hold these loops 50 closedand to prevent buckling of the side walls of the container.

Upon the arrival of the container to a place of designation, the strapST and staples SP securing the door D to lip or ledge L are removed,permitting the door to be swung open, carrying with it its flap F.Access is now had to the transported garments and more particularly tothe hangers thereof which can now be quickly removed from the rack andmoved out of the container through the door opening.

Parallel score or crease lines 15, 16 and 17 may be considered as aseries thereof interrupting the upper part of the blank. Concerningwings W, the portions between score lines 15 and 16 and 17 definecompanion swingably connected primary and secondary components 52 and80. Components 52 are common to loops 50 and Sll (Fig. 7). Thesecomponents together with upper margins of spaced sides LSW and RSW maybe considered as the legs of the swingably interconnected loops 50 and51. In addition, bridge means 64 together with end plates 63 may also beconsidered as hook means extending from the ends of the channel shapedbar 60 which also holds and braces the spaced sides of the container apredetermined distance apart even when. the load of the garment isgreatest within the container.

The expression corrugated fiberboard signifies a fibrous board of paperhaving two outside paper liners secured to an intervening sinuous paperliner.

Various changes may be made in details of construction and arrangementof parts without departing from the spirit of the invention orsacrificing any of the advantages thereof inherent therein.

I claim:

1. A corrugated fiberboard container adapted to enclose garmentsustaining hangers and foldable out of a one piece scored blank;comprising, front, rear and a pair of side walls, said side wallsdefining an opening at the front part of said container; a sill and adoor. above said sill and both normally accessible outside of saidcontainer and both constituting said front wall and both integrallymerged with one of said side walls, said door and rear wall at theirupper parts each having a swingable flap foldable downwardly adjacentthe upper edges of said side walls to close the upper part of saidcontainer, the other side wall of said .pair carrying a swingable lipintegral therewith and adapted to be disposed within said opening, saidsill being disposed between said sidewalls and secured to said lip toclose the lower part of said opening, said door being bodily swingablewith one of said flaps and relative to said side walls to arrange saiddoor against said lip to removably close the upper part of said Openingand concomitantly arrange said last mentioned flap adjacent said edges,wings extending from said side walls and having primary leg portionshaving upper parts integral with and swingably connected to the upperparts of said side walls and defining therewith spaced inverted U-shapedloops, a rack for supporting said hangers and sustained by and havingmeans for receiving and straddling said loops to hold the latter closed,said wings having secondary leg portions swingably connected to thelower parts of said primary leg portions to define therewith outside andaccessible U-shaped loops adapted to receive and embrace outer end partsof said rack, and said wings having remainder portions integrally mergedwith the upper parts of said secondary leg portions and foldablerelative to said secondary leg portions and downwardly against saidflaps.

2. A corrugated fiberboard container adapted to enclose garmentsustaining hangers and foldable out of a one piece scored blank;comprising, front, rear and a pair of side walls, said side wallsdefining an opening at the front part of said container; a sill and adoor above said sill and both normally accessible outside of saidcontainer and both constituting said front wall and both integrallymerged with one of said side walls, said door and rear wall at theirupper parts each having a swingable fiap foldable downwardly adjacentthe upper edges of said side walls to close the upper part of saidcontainer, the other side wall of said pair carrying a swingable lipintegral therewith and adapted to be disposed within said opening, saidsill being disposed between said side walls and secured to said lip toclose the lower part of said opening, said door being bodily swingablewith one of said flaps and relative to said side walls to arrange saiddoor against said lip to removably close the upper part of said openingand concomitantly arrange said last mentioned flap adjacent said edges,wings extending from said side walls and having primary leg portionshaving upper parts integral with and swingably connected to the upperparts of said side walls and defining therewith spaced inverted U-shapedloops, a rack for supporting said hangers and having means sustained bysaid loops and spaced means for receiving and straddling said loops tohold the latter closed and to prevent buckling of said sides, said wingshaving secondary leg portions swingably connected to the lower parts ofsaid primary leg portions to define therewith U-shaped loops adapted toreceive and embrace outer end portions of said spaced means, and saidwings having remainder portions integrally merged with the upper partsof said secondary leg portions and foldable relative to said secondaryleg portions and downwardly against said flaps, said other side wall ofsaid pair having a plurality of spaced slots adjacent said lip to permitconvenient reception of fastening means for securing said door and sillto said lip.

3. A corrugated fiberboard container adapted to enclose garmentsustaining hangers and foldable out of a one piece scored blank;comprising, front, rear and a pair of side walls, said side wallsdefining an opening at the front part of said container; a sill and adoor above said sill and both normally accessible outside of saidcontainer and both constituting said front wall and both integrallymerged with one of said side walls, said door and rear wall at theirupper parts each having a swingable flap foldable downwardly adjacentthe upper edges of said side walls to close the upper part of saidcontainer, the other side wall of said pair carrying a swingable lipintegral therewith and adapted to be disposed within said opening, saidsill being disposed between said side walls and secured to said lip toclose the lower part of said opening, said door being bodily swingablewith one of said fiaps and relative to said side walls to arrange saiddoor against said lip to removably close the upper part of said openingand concomitantly arrange said last mentioned fiap adjacent said edges,wings extending from said side walls and having primaiy leg portionshaving upper parts integral with and swingably connected to the upperparts of said side walls and defining therewith spaced inverted U-shapedloops, a rack for supporting said hangers and having spaced means forreceiving and closely straddling said loops to hold the latter closedand having bridge means interconnecting said spaced means and sustainedby said loops, said wings having secondary leg portions swingablyconnected to the lower parts of said primary leg portions to definetherewith outside and accessible U-shaped loops adapted to receive andembrace terminal end portions of said spaced means, and said wingshaving remainder portions integrally merged with the upper parts of saidsecondary leg portions and foldable relative to said secondary legportions and downwardly against said flaps.

4. A corrugated fiberboard container adapted to enclose garmentsustaining hangers and foldable out of a one piece scored blank;comprising, front, rear and a pair of side walls, said side wallsdefining an opening at the front part of said container; a sill and adoor above said sill and both normally accessible outside of saidcontainer and both constituting said front wall and both integrallymerged with one of said side walls, said door and rear wall at theirupper parts each having a swingable fiap foldable downwardly adjacentthe upper edges of said side walls to close the upper part of saidcontainer, the other side wall of said pair carrying a swingable lipintegral therewith and adapted to be disposed within said opening, saidsill being disposed between said side walls and secured to said lip toclose the lower part of said opening, said door being bodily swingablewith one of said flaps and relative to said side walls to arrange saiddoor against said lip to removably close the upper part of said openingand concomitantly arrange said last mentioned flap adjacent said edges,wings extending from said side walls and having primary leg portionshaving upper parts integral with and swingably connected to the upperparts of said side walls and defining therewith spaced inverted U-shapedloops, a rack comprising a bar for supporting said hangers and a platespaced from each end of said bar, said plates cooperating with said endsfor closely receiving and straddling said loops to hold the latterclosed and having bridge means interconnecting said ends and plates andsupported by said loops, said wings having secondary leg portionsswingably connected to the lower parts of said primary leg portions todefine therewith accessible and outside U-shaped loops adapted toreceive and embrace said plates, and said wings having remainderportions integrally merged with the upper parts of said secondary legportions and foldable relative to said secondary leg portions anddownwardly against said flaps.

5. A corrugated fiberboard container adapted to enclose garmentsustaining hangers and foldable out of a one piece scored blank;comprising, front, rear and a pair of side walls, said side wallsdefining an opening at the front part of said container; a sill and adoor above said sill and both normally accessible outside of saidcontainer and both constituting said front wall and both integrallymerged with one of said side Walls, said door and rear wall at theirupper parts each having a swingable flap foldable downwardly adjacentthe upper edges of said side walls to close the upper part of saidcontainer, the other side wall of said pair carrying a swingable lipintegral therewith and adapted to be disposed within said opening, saidsill being disposed between said side walls and secured to said lip toclose the lower part of said opening, said door being bodily swingablewith one of said flaps and relative to said side walls to arrange saiddoor against said lip to removably close the upper part of said openingand concomitantly arrange said last mentioned flap adjacent said edges,wings extending from said side 7 V Y walls and having primary legportions having upper parts integral with and swingably connected to theupper parts of said side walls and defining therewith spaced invertedU-shaped loops, a rack comprising a bar for supporting said hangers andhaving a plate spaced from each end of said bar, said plates cooperatingwith said ends for closely receiving and straddling said loops to holdthe latter closed and having bridge means interconnecting said ends andplates and supported by said loops, said wings having secondary legportions swingably connected to the lower parts of said primary legportions to define therewith accessible and outside U-shaped loopsadapted to receive and embrace said plates, and said wings havingremainder portions integrally merged with the upper parts of saidsecondary leg portions and foldable relative to said secondary legportions and downwardly against said flaps, and prong means carried bysaid bar for penetrating at least one of said flaps when disposedadjacent said edges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS990,626 Boeddener Apr. 25, 1911 1,160,813 Allan Nov. 16, 1915 1,932,240Bomberger Oct. 24, 1933 2,293,625 Patch Aug. 18, 1942 2,474,523 GuyerJune 28, 1949 2,535,233 Ross Dec. 26, 1950 2,567,786 Rosenberg Sept. 11,1951 2,633,979 Warnick Apr. 7, 1953

